Chapter 67
The entrance to the café was gently enveloped by a floral aroma. An eye-catching flower bed lined up in front of the store.
Hehe-
A clear humming.
Byeol, wearing a fresh yellow dress, glanced down at the hem just above her thighs and shuffled her feet.
‘Won’t they think I’m being too provocative?’
She might be at an age suitable for marriage, but she was also definitely mature.
But wasn’t it okay if you looked pretty?
Pushing a foreign car’s key fob deep into her handbag, Byeol admired her fully decked-out reflection in the glass wall.
‘Perfect.’
Bright stars shimmered in both eyes.
A natural blonde that can’t be achieved with dyes.
No dark circles from gaming till dawn, and she’s shed all signs of being a gaming addict.
‘With this look, maybe dinner on our first meeting?’
“Hehehe”
Her date was a younger man from El Academy. A promising future, learned. Wasn’t he the best husband material? She didn’t mind having to touch up her makeup in a nearby restroom after an early morning flight.
-Vroom!
A car from the road stopped in front of the café.
The door opened with a thud. A man stepped out of the black sedan, removed his mask, and placed it on the driver’s seat.
“...Huh?”
The man slicked back his hair, cast a quick glance at Byeol, and greeted her with a bright smile.
“Hello.”
A refreshingly sincere smile.N0v3lRealm was the platform where this chapter was initially revealed on N0v3l.B1n.
Byeol, eyes wide, pointed at the man and asked,
“...Are you Seyeong’s boyfriend?”
Then, the passenger door opened, and Seyeong stepped out, flicking her slightly damp hair to the side.
-Clink.
Her necklace swayed.
The sight of sweat trickling down her collarbone seemed strangely sensual.
“Wait a moment.”
Byeol, grinning at Shiheon, immediately grabbed Seyeong by the collar and dragged her into a nearby alley.
“Did you bring your boyfriend to mock me? I was so touched...”
She felt a huge sense of betrayal.
“Seyeong, you bring your boyfriend... You wanted to make fun of me! Hmph.”
“He’s not my boyfriend. He wanted me to introduce him to a girl, so I introduced you. What’s your issue?”
Seyeong, annoyed, slapped Byeol’s hand off her collar. She then bit her wrist and pulled out a single hair.
“He’s not your boyfriend?”
Byeol asked Seyeong with hopeful eyes.
“Have you two...you know?”
“Why would I? With him?”
They had just done it.
“Did you sleep with him?”
“Why would I do that?”
“So, can I take his virginity?”
Seyeong had already taken it.
Truthfully, even if Seyeong hadn’t, the World Tree of Healing would have.
“Whatever.”
Seyeong, who lived a life filled with deception and politics, wore a poker face, continuously biting her wrist. Overwhelmed by the distinct male scent emanating from inside her throat, she rubbed her thighs.
Ah, she wanted to get back in the car quickly.
“Se, Seyeong!”
Unsure of Seyeong’s feelings, an elated Byeol hugged her tight. Seyeong responded with a weak smile,
“You like him that much?”
“I love it! Woohoo!”
Seyeong’s smile remained. It was a devilish grin.
The Byeol I knew was... someone with a distinct personality, going her own way no matter what others said.
Because of her unpredictable nature, I faced some issues, but she wasn’t a bad person.
If I had to evaluate, she was efficient and lively.
-Whoosh.
The scent of peppermint tea filled my nostrils.
But.
‘Is she really the person I knew?’
I couldn’t help but doubt it. As I cautiously lifted my head from the teacup, I saw Byeol sitting politely with her hands and feet folded, her eyes gleaming.
“Do you like peppermint tea~”
-Bashfully.
Her head tilted 45 degrees, clearly conscious of how she appeared to others. Byeol looked straight at me with an innocent smile, the frills of her chick-like dress swaying with her body.
‘This is...’
“Why the sudden reaction?”
“I have a dream.”
Byeol’s eyes were sparkling.
“To go to a PC room with a guy!”
Going to a PC room on a first blind date...
Feeling that the atmosphere might be ruined if we went that far, I decided to rent a multi-room with a computer for a bit.
“Is this the food we’re going with?”
“Of course!”
Byeol cheerfully turned on the computer in response to my question. The sight of her settling into her seat and logging into the game looked the most natural and excited I’ve seen her all day.
‘She really was a true gamer.’
Well, I myself am somewhat of a game addict and was quite fond of it. There was a time when I played games all day long. I placed the chicken, beer, and soju on the table and started the game moderately.
“But, won’t the chicken get cold? When will we eat it?”
“While playing!”
“Oh...”
As I set out the food, I playfully teased her.
“How about warming up with a one-on-one match? The loser has a penalty.”
Even though it was Byeol’s request that brought us here, my intention was to make her drink. Despite being broad daylight, I thought it necessary to get her to drink something.
“One-on-one? Nah... let’s just play together.”
Byeol subtly showed her disinterest. Smiling, I whispered the magic word.
“Coward?”
“...What?”
A spark flashed in Byeol’s bright yellow eyes.
“Shiheon really knows how to push a gamer’s buttons, huh?”
She put her hand on the keyboard.
“What’s the penalty?”
“A talent show. If you can’t do it, you drink.”
“Deal.”
From a plastic bag, Byeol took out a large beer glass and filled it with soju. Added to that, a drop of beer. It was a killer penalty drink.
“Isn’t that a bit too strong for the first round?”
“Coward?”
Startled, I asked, and Byeol, laughing under her breath, put on a headset from nowhere.
Just look at this.
Even though I was once ranked as a Diamond, how could I lose a mere game?
Taking a deep breath, I placed my hands on the keyboard and mouse.
[Game start]
The game that followed was an FPS set in the future where you used superpowers, so various effects burst onto the screen.
-Bang.
I tested out the bullet. The shooting experience was quite similar to a game called Overwatch that I used to play in the previous world. Even though I knew nothing about graphics or character performance here, my skills were still top-notch.
-Chhhrhhrhhr.
Byeol’s character, dressed as a soldier, flew by, firing a machine gun. Her character’s movements perfectly captured its essence. I took a few hits, observing the map and opponents.
I saw an opening.
-Bang.
“Wha?!”
With the character’s demise, Byeol, who had immersed herself in the game, trembled.
‘I guess that’s the power of innate talent.’
I had always felt this. Not just in games, but in every action, it felt like I was getting a bonus. Perhaps if the word ‘versatile’ were personified, it would be me. With that arrogant thought, I looked at Byeol.
“...What?”
Byeol looked terrified.
“I...I was a tournament champion, you know...”
“So, am I the gold medalist now?”
She seemed to be quite confident in her skills. Byeol’s fingers trembled as she looked at the soju next to her.
“Uh... Shiheon?”
“Yes?”
“I’m really bad with alcohol... Can you pour less?”
Did she never consider that she might lose? I felt no pity.
“No way. Either drink or perform.”
“What do I have to do for the talent show?”
I pointed to the center of the multi-room.
“How about dancing over there?”
“...Wait, let’s play one more round.”
Thinking she wouldn’t be able to play well after drinking, Byeol resolved herself and stood up.
Soon, from the center of the multi-room, the voice of a flushed Byeol echoed.
“Byeol is dancing...”
I was not sure how our blind date ended up like this...
Her voice, filled with utmost embarrassment, rose.
Surprisingly, the song was quite catchy.
